If Professional Home Stagers Remove These Things, Maybe You Should Too
Are you thinking of downsizing? Or maybe you're just tired of your home. It may be in a lovely neighborhood, with lots of character and good bones, but if it's cluttered with your stuff, it might be really hard to see those assets. And if you're hoping to sell, you may have to accept a lower price than you would like.
Real estate agents almost always suggest hiring a professional stager to prepare a home for sale, but don't worry if you can't afford that. I've successfully staged my own homes for sale. I also talked to my friend Tracy, a long-time real estate agent and home stager. She helped me compile a list of the top 9 things to remove and the top 4 things to add as you prepare your home to be listed.
By the end of this process, your house may look better than it has for a long time. Maybe you'll even decide to stay put!
Start with the big stuff.
1. Exterior
The outside of your home is the first thing anyone sees, even if they're just driving by. From overgrown trees and shrubs to scraggly lawns, messy porches, scattered toys, and opinionated yard signs, what a buyer sees from the curb can make or break a sale.
If you have children, clean up their toys. Prune shrubs and trees; mow and edge the lawn and fix broken sprinklers. Clean the walk and the porch and get rid of damaged furniture. Consider repainting the front door and replacing the welcome mat.
2. Excess furniture
Less furniture really is more. "You're selling square footage and want spaces to look large," says Tracy. Take away anything that blocks an opening or impedes the flow of the room, is repetitive (like extra arm chairs and tables), or that makes a room multipurpose (such as a computer desk in your bedroom).
3. Anything you don't plan to take with you
If your couch is sagging, don't wait for moving day to remove it. If you intend to get rid of your old entertainment center in favor of hanging a new 4K smart TV, do it now instead of later. If you don't see value in a piece, neither will the buyer, and it might distract them from seeing value in other areas.
Declutter.
Many home stagers suggest removing one-third of your possessions. "You want shelves, cabinets, and drawers to be tidy and not too full, showing a buyer plenty of space," explains Tracy.
4. In the kitchen
Remove freebie cups and water bottles, extra mugs, warped or lidless food storage containers, duplicate utensils, gadgets, and small appliances you rarely or never use, the knife block, and old food from the pantry and refrigerator. Declutter countertops, and clear off the top and door of the fridge.
5. In the bathroom
Remove old cosmetics, expired medications, and the extras and duplicates you tried and didn't like. If your towels or rugs are faded, stained, or frayed, donate them to a pet shelter and get new ones. Clear off the countertop, leaving only a hand soap dispenser and a plant.
6. Seasonal clothing and décor
If it's summer, there's no reason to stuff the hall closet with coats and umbrellas. Box them up and store them away. The tubs of Halloween décor you usually stash in the corner of the guest room shouldn't be there either. While you're at it, donate anything you wouldn't take with you to a new home.
7. Kids' stuff
Children typically have a lot of stuff, and – surprise! – not all of it is necessary. Clear out toys, books, and games that are no longer in favor, and clothes that no longer fit or are too ragged to pass to a younger sibling. Trash all of the freebie junk. This process will create more space than you realize and make your eventual packing much easier.
8. Pet items
Pet beds and litter boxes need to be removed during showings. Not only do they add visual clutter, but they don't always smell good. And you don't want a potential buyer with allergies to be discouraged from putting in an offer.
9. Personal items
Remove any political or religious items and anything with your name on it. You not only want the buyer to envision themselves in your house, you don't want to advertise your affiliations. Also remove personal photos, especially of your wedding or your children. "The buyer may be divorced, suffering a loss, or simply living a life that's different from yours," says Tracy.
If a focal wall is left bare as a result, you may need to acquire some artwork. Although buyers will appreciated uncluttered wall space, a completely blank wall looks cold and unfinished. Large gallery-wrapped prints aren't too expensive; you might even find something you like and want to keep.*
* Thank you for supporting this blog. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.
Clean and repair.
Clean surfaces. Then clean deeper. Your goal is sanitary, bright, and fresh-smelling.
- Pay attention to floors and corners.
- Make windows sparkle and clean the screens, tracks, and sills.
- Clean the kitchen sink, stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator.
- Scrub bathroom grout, the bathtub, shower walls and door, and the toilet. Get rid of hard water stains.
If your house needs major repairs, the inspector has probably pointed them out. Those may not be jobs you can do yourself. But many small repairs can be handled in 30 minutes or less for $30 or less. I'm thinking of tasks like paint touch-ups, squeaky doors, burned-out lightbulbs, running toilets, and a clogged or dirty garbage disposal or dishwasher filter.
Add finishing touches.
1. Plants
Plants offer form, texture, and life. They fill corners; they clean the air. You don't have to spring for fresh flowers every week. Add plants to the kitchen and bathroom counters, the dining table, coffee table, and the table in the entry hall. A simple pothos, sansevieria (snake plant), or a vase of eucalyptus branches will make your space fresh and inviting.
2. Trays
Small items should be grouped and contained. Put various-sized candles, your books and alarm clock, or perfumes and lotions together on a tray. Use a small marble slab to gather your olive oil, salt, and pepper, or a wooden cutting board to hold jars filled with tea bags, ground coffee, and demerara sugar.
3. Lighting
Buyers (and you) respond positively to expansive, well-lit spaces. If you can, keep window treatments lightweight, and hang them 4-6 inches above the window frame to give the illusion of a higher ceiling. Hang a mirror across from the window to reflect and emphasize natural light, and have at least two or three lamps in every room.
4. Personality
You've removed personal items, but that doesn't mean you should remove all personality. Keep your favorite books. Display a favorite collection. Highlight an inherited antique or a flea market find you restored yourself. Favor handmade and one-of-a-kind over factory-made décor from a big box store. Just be sure not to crowd things. A few special items will receive more attention.
Oh, the irony.
Once you've done all of these things to make your home more attractive to a buyer, you may notice that it's more attractive to you, too. Clutter-free, super-clean, refreshed and repaired.... Are you sure you want to move? Why didn't you ever make the effort to stage your home for yourself? Why shouldn't you and your family enjoy this charming and familiar place?
With the exception of the best of your personal photos (and your carved wooden "welcome" sign with your family name), what is your home missing except the clutter and the also-rans?
The hardest part of staging your home just for yourself might be finding the time and determination to do it. Without the potential of a sale, it might be difficult to get started. So maybe you'll have to set an artificial deadline – unless the fact that you live here every day motivates you enough to create a place you love.
Loving your home has more to do with new eyes than new things.... More often than not, what we need is what we already have.
Trinity Wilbourn
You can get a jumpstart on a more spacious and comfortable home with the indispensable tools in my newest book, The 4-Hour Declutter. You don't need to be perfect, you just need to show up. Take the first step today!
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